Favorite parts of lake life might be fishing, water sports, playing along the beach, and watching the birds. Many folks would agree that hearing the eerie calls of loons makes the lake experience even more enchanting. This article will give some fascinating details about loons and also give tips on how to encourage loons to reside here.
LOCATION: Several common loons have been swimming around this spring as they establish
territories and attract mates. Diamond Lake’s location is on the southern edge of good habitat
for loons so even Green Lake, which is less than 10 miles to the north of us, has more resident
loons than our lake. Also, Green Lake covers more than three times as many acres so it allows
for more loons to establish their territories. Did you know that loons are more dedicated to
their favorite territory than to their mate? Some loon pairs may remain together for many years
but a good territory may be worth fighting for, even if their mate is evicted by another loon. A
good territory is where the pair has successfully raised a chick or two each summer, one with
little human interference, and it provides a protected area for their nest on a natural shoreline.
ARTIFICIAL NESTING PLATFORMS: A couple of families on Diamond Lake worked with an Aquatic Fowl expert from the DNR to build two floating platforms. The platforms appear natural, complete with moss and plants, along with mesh over the top to protect the loons from eagles and hawks. The host family put the platforms out in early spring and will retrieve and store them each winter.
CALLS: “yodeling” call and that is when it feels threatened? To our ears, we hear beautiful sounds unique to a wilderness. To them, the sounds are saying “Warning! Stay away from my
territory!” Night chorusing occurs mainly in May and June when loons are establishing
territories and are on their nest. You can hear each sound at this website.
HEAVY BIRDS and GREAT DIVERS:
Have you ever been watching a loon swim and then it disappears? Did you know that loons can stay underwater for about 1 to 3 minutes, although some exceptional divers can stay underwater for up to 5 minutes? The duration depends on the water temperature and clarity, number of preferred fish, and whether an eagle is circling above them.
Loons have solid bones, while the bones of most birds are hollow and light. The extra weight
enables them to dive as deep as 200 feet in search of food. No wonder they might pop up far
from where they disappeared!
Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100- to 600-foot
"runway" to take off from a lake. This explains why they can get trapped in a small area of open
water in late fall because they can’t take off from short waterways, ice, or land.
Even though loons are heavy birds, they can fly at speeds up to about 70 miles per hour! Their
wingspan is about four feet wide. Loons ride lower in the water due to their weight so you will
see less of their body compared to ducks. Males and females look alike other than the male
being larger in size.
EYES: In the spring and summer, the birds’ eyes turn a vibrant shade of crimson. Scientists don’tknow why this happens, although it may have something to do with attracting mates or helping with underwater vision. In the colder months, the birds’ eyes are a dull gray.
FEET: Loons are clumsy on land because their feet are positioned toward the back of their
bodies. They take short naps on the water or on their nests. If you see one on land, unless it is
on its nest, please call for assistance at the number below. Don’t try to put it back in the water
because it might need rehabilitation first. Remember a couple of springs ago when some loons
got iced up when flying back from the South, fell to the ground in Wisconsin fields and needed
to be rescued?
MIGRATION: Did you know that loon pairs don’t “winter” together? Males return about a week earlier in April than the females do so they have to find each other and recreate their bond. Loon pairs strengthen their bond by doing things together, such as preening, foraging, patrolling their territory and sleeping side-by-side. If you see two loons doing a splashy dance, they are probably rivals and not engaging in a mating dance as some species do.
The pair’s reunion can be disrupted by a young male looking for his first mate or by one who got chased out of their old territory. Loons are very territorial, with both males and females making vicious attacks.
If you see an injured or sick loon, please call the number below.
CHICKS: The female builds the nest on a secluded shoreline but both parents incubate the one or two eggs. Loon parents provide care until the chicks are about three months old. This extra-long attention leads to a better survival rate for loon chicks than for other waterfowl. Chicks often ride on their parents’ back until they are about three weeks old. Chicks are unable to fly or dive until they are about two months old. Loon’s lifespan is from twenty to thirty years.
MINNESOTA has more loons than any other state except Alaska. Minnesota named the common loon as its state bird in 1961.
What can we do to support loons on Diamond Lake?
STAY AWAY: Teach children to NOT cast toward loons, or any birds. Please don’t scare a loon off of their nest because it leaves the eggs or chicks open to predators like raccoons and snapping turtles. Harassment of loons, including chasing or circling with watercraft or disturbing nests, is a violation of state and federal laws and subject to penalties. If you see a loon that has gotten entangled in fishing line, please call the number below.
WATCH OUT for loons when boating and jet skiing! Always assume that they will not dive to
prevent getting hit. They won’t dive when protecting their chicks, which are hard to see. Stay
100 feet away while boating; 200 feet away from shorelines while creating a wake.
NO LEAD: Please use fishing tackle that is not lead, zinc / zinc-alloy or metal composites. Lead poisoning resulting from the ingestion of lead fishing sinkers or jigs or lead shot is almost always deadly within a few weeks.
SHORELINE: Preserve the natural qualities of your shoreline by leaving or planting native plants and naturally-fallen trees in the water. Keep grass clippings and leaves from entering the lake and leave a “no mow zone” at least 10’ wide along the shoreline.
Everything you do to improve water quality will also benefit the loons’ habitat and encourages
them to come back here year after year.
If you see an injured or beached loon, please call MN Loon Rescue Network at 612-226-6571.
Interested in more details about loons? Go to Facebook and search for "The Loon Lady" and "Loon Preservation Committee". Visit the National Loon Denter in Crosslake MN..
